European lunar orbiter. One launch, 2003.09.27, Insat 3E. ESA's SMART-1 was to test miniaturization technology while exploring the Moon from orbit.

It was to be the first space probe ESA ever sent to the Moon and was to also be the first of ESA's missions to test advanced technology needed for future scientific planetary missions. It would use ion propulsion to maneuver from a geosynchronous transfer orbit to an elliptical lunar orbit over a sixteen month period.

SMART-1 was to test solar electric propulsion and other deep-space technologies, while performing scientific observations of the Moon. Among other investigations, it was to investigate the origin of the Moon and search for ice in the craters at the Moon's south pole. SMART was the abbreviation for Small Missions for Advanced Research and Technology.

Highlights:

Spacecraft Prime contractor: Swedish Space Corporation, Solna, Sweden

Launcher: Ariane-5 (SMART-1 was a secondary payload)

Launch mass: 366.5 kilograms

Dimensions: 1 cubic meter

Instruments

EPDP - To monitor the working of the propulsion system and its effects on the spacecraft - G. Noci, Laben Proel, Italy

SPEDE - To also monitor the effect of the propulsion system and to investigate the electrical environment of the Earth-Moon space - W. Schmidt, FMI, Finland - -

Ariane 5 The Ariane 5 was a completely new design, unrelated to the earlier Ariane 1 to 4. It consisted of a single-engine Lox/LH2 core stage flanked by two solid rocket boosters. Preparatory work began in 1984. Full scale development began in 1988 and cost $ 8 billion. The design was sized for the Hermes manned spaceplane, later cancelled. This resulted in the booster being a bit too large for the main commercial payload, geosynchronous communications satellites. As a result, development of an uprated version capable of launching two such satellites at a time was funded in 2000. More...

NASA Report, SMART-1 mission, technologies and science: With Solar Power to the Moon, Web Address when accessed: here.

Associated Launch Sites

Kourou After the agreement with newly independent Algeria for France to evacuate their launch sites in that country, a location near Biscarosse was selected for French missile testing. However since only launches westwards across the Bay of Biscay could be made from this site, it was unsuitable for France's Diamant orbital launch vehicle. After reviewing 14 potential sites, a location in the South American French colony of Guiana was selected. This would allow over-water launches to a tremendous range of possible orbital inclinations -- from -100.5 deg to 1.5 deg. Being near the equator, it would provide the maximum assist from the earth's rotation for launches into equatorial orbits. The decision was formalized in April 1964 and in July 1966 ELDO chose the site for future launches of the Europa II launch vehicle. More...